Impact of ICD lead on the system durability, predictors of long-term survival following ICD system extraction

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) systems are considered as having higher risk of complication and shorter durability but reasons of this multifactorial phenomenon remain unclear. We aimed to analyze this problem in population of patients with ICD leads referred for lead extraction (TLE).

We have compared TLE indications, procedural results, and defined the long-term outcomes of TLE in patients with ICD/CRT-D devices (n  =  482, ICD (+)) with lead extractions in patients with standard pacemakers (n  =  1,402, ICD (-)). Demographic, clinical characteristics, and procedural outcomes were ascertained from single, primary operator registry. Long-term survival data were provided by the National Health Fund.

The ICD (+) subgroup had a significantly higher incidence rate of either infective or noninfective indications for TLE. The clinical success rate of extraction was 99.2% in ICD (+) versus 97.4% in ICD (-) (P  =  0.05) at a complication rate of 1.04% versus 2.14% (NS), respectively. In the median follow-up of 3.39 years, 142 patients from the ICD (+) subgroup and 303 from the ICD (-) subgroup died. The highest mortality rate of 41.1% was observed in the ICD (+) subgroup with infective indications. Infection, renal failure, diabetes, and age were the multivariate factors associated with increased mortality in the ICD (+) subgroup.

ICD leads remain more vulnerable, with respect to mechanical failure and their propensity to infection, in comparison to pacing leads. Their TLE is very effective at least complication rate, when performed by a highly skilled and experienced operator. However, long-term mortality after their TLE is high and is affected mostly by infections or patient-related factors.